Divine life: Director Van Luong (fourth right) and his crew working on the historical television series Phat Hoang Tran Nhan Tong. — Photo laodong.com.vn

HCM CITY (VNS) — A historical television series on the life of King-Monk Tran Nhan Tong, the founder of Viet Nam Zen Buddhism, will be filmed early next month by the private entertainment group, Viet Nam Tinh Hoa (Viet Ess).

The 45-part series, Phat Hoang Tran Nhan Tong (King-Monk Tran Nhan Tong), is written by a group of 11 scriptwriters and authors knowledgeable about Vietnamese history and Buddhism.

The screenplay was based on nine novels by writers Hoang Quoc Hai, Ha An and Tran Dai Si.

The film's director, Meritorious Artist Van Luong, and his staff spent more than three years preparing for filming.

"My staff and I have worked with dozens of experts in language, costume design, and props to improve our knowledge and understand how all of these fields in the film are important historically, technically, and socially," said Luong.

The series is about the life and attainment of Nirvana of King-Monk Tran Nhan Tong (1258-1308), the third king of the Tran dynasty, who ascended the throne when he was just 21.

The King was famed for defeating Mongol invaders twice during his 15-year reign.

He abdicated the throne when he was 35 and spent the rest of his life on Yen Tu Mountain, located in Quang Ninh Province, practising and propagating Buddhism.

He founded the Truc Lam School of Zen and worked to unify different Vietnamese Buddhism sects into Vietnamese Zen Buddhism.

The Central Committee of the Viet Nam Buddhist Sangha has long observed the day the King attained Nirvana (the first day of the 11th lunar month) as the national anniversary of Vietnamese Buddhism.

"Through the film, we wanted to spotlight King-Monk Tran Nhan Tong's remarkable spirit and work," said Luong, adding that the film is his greatest project.

Luong's film attracted more than 100 actors and stuntmen, who have been trained by film and theatre experts, such as People's Artists Nguyen Dinh Quang, Man Thu, Nhu Quynh and Le Chuc.

The producer Viet Ess has also constructed a 15-hectare studio in Uong Bi City in Quang Ninh Province for filming.

Post-production work on the film Phat Hoang Tran Nhan Tong will be completed in Ha Noi later this year. — VNS